Sunday, June 30, 2013

We live with our cats and feel like we are experts on
them.We see them daily and feel like we
would know if there was any problem that needed attention.However, since we do see them daily,
sometimes it is difficult for us to detect changes that happened slowly over
time.Other times we blame changes on the
weather, season, pet’s age, pet’s breed, etc.A yearly visit to your veterinarian with your pet is the perfect time
for an objective assessment of your cat’s physical health as well as to be able
to gather advice about changes that may be happening and what to do about them.

In addition to the physical examination being performed,
your veterinarian will discuss your pet’s diet in terms of appetite, type of
food fed, and amount fed. They will inquire about your cat’s exercise regimen
and energy level.Questions are asked
regardinglitter box habits and output.Other questionscover vomiting, coughing/wheezing, and sneezing.

During the physical exam, your veterinarian may not
verbalize all of the things they are assessing, since they are often continuing to ask questions about your cat.Here is a general list of the things being checked and noted:

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Ringworm, despite the name, is actually caused by a fungus
that causes a skin and hair infection, especially in areas where the skin is
irritated, shaved, or scratched.Microsporum
canis causes most cases, but Microsporum gypseum or Trichophyton mentagrophytes
can cause some infections.The majority of cases
occur in kittens but it can be seen in adult cats with stressed immune systems,
especially in cat shelters. Cats with Feline Leukemia or FIV are more likely
to contract this disease.

Some cases have the characteristic skin lesion of a dry,
round hairless area that looks scaly and maybe irritated but not itchy.Cats are more likely to develop this disease
in areas around the face and ears.

Cats with crusty lesions as well as cats with no apparent
symptoms (carriers) can drop fungus spores into their home environment.This can happen even during treatment.

This disease is easily transmitted between cats, and between
cats and humans. Ringworm can be spread directly or indirectly through fomites.
Fomites are inanimate objects such as blankets, furniture, carpet, pet brushed,
cages, or even clothing. This fungus can survive on these objects for months to
years.

Unfortunately, this disease is contagious to people, as well
as to other pets in the household.The
disease is more likely to cause symptoms in people with a weak immune system.

In pets, the disease is typically diagnosed by use of a
Wood’s lamp exam or fungal culture. Treating the disease can be tricky due to
the continuous contamination of the environment by the spores.Isolation of the pet as well as disinfection
of the environment is key.Bleach is a
very effective way to kill the spores. Vacuuming
and steam cleaning are very important for that reason.

Although some cats can clear the infection themselves within a few month,
this disease is very contagious and the amount of contamination of fungal
spores into the environment cause high risk of infection to other pets and
humans. There are oral and topical treatments for ringworm.Both treatments must be performed over 1 to 2
months.Stopping treatment early can be
disappointing since the disease will return again.A negative fungal culture is necessary to
confirm that the pet is free of ringworm.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Recognizing signs of an upper respiratory infection (URI) in cats can be confusing because the symptoms can be very similar to signs of allergies in people. Cats often have a lot of sneezing and runny eyes when suffering from an URI. Cats are very likely to be exposed to URIs when they are in the outdoors or in animal shelters around other cats. Kittens can be especially susceptible to these infections due to their immature immune system.

Most of the URIs in cats are caused by two main viruses - Herpes and Calicivirus. Luckily these viruses are not transmissible to people or dogs. Like in people, Herpes can be forever, with cats having flare-ups, especially after stressful events. With mild cases, the disease will run its course with minimal symptoms over a week or so. With moderate to severe cases, the cat may have a decreased appetite or fever. Some cats will have such severe sinus congestion that they may have trouble breathing or sneeze blood. Other cats may start squinting their eye(s) which indicates pain, as in cases with corneal ulcers. In addition, some cats' eyes may be red or swollen with yellowish green discharge. Cats with any of these advanced symptoms should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Prescription antibiotics may be needed if a primary or secondary bacterial infection is suspected. Eye medication may also be necessary.After your cat has recovered from the initial infection, watch for signs of recurrence, which helps determine he or she probably has Herpes. Confirming a Herpes infection can be done with lab testing but may be done indirectly by response to Lysine. Lysine is a medication readily available in human and veterinary pharmacies. This medication helps prevent the virus from replicating or reproducing in the cat which allows the flare-up to be resolved quicker.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Anorexia, which is a very reduced or complete lack of
appetite, can be very serious in cats.Decreased
appetite can have many causes such as fever, intestinal disease, organ disease,
or cancer.In addition to whatever the
primary cause of the anorexia may be, several days of not eating well be caused
by or can cause what is called fatty liver disease aka hepatic lipidosis.Even a few weeks of just eating 25-50 % less
than usual can lead to this disease.

Fatty liver disease, although more common in obese cats, can
happen in any cat suffering from anorexia and weight loss, and is the most
common type of liver disease seen in cats.Jaundice, yellowing of the skin, is commonly seen with this disease.This disease causes significant nausea
leading to more anorexia and vomiting.Affected
cats are often lethargic and dehydrated as well.

Quick veterinary intervention is needed for this disease and
most cats will recover with appropriate treatment.The main objective is to remedy the
underlying cause as well as to control the nausea and vomiting and to provide nutrition.Advanced cases often require the placement of
a feeding tube from outside the neck, into the esophagus, so that adequate feeding can be provided
without trying to perform oral (by mouth) force feeding.Daily oral force feeding can lead to the cat
not only resenting the caretaker, but also causes worse food aversion.The feeding tube may need to be left in place
for up to 2 months in severe cases.In
addition to antinausea medication, the cat may also require hydration therapy,
electrolyte and vitamin supplementation, and liver support medications.

As you can see, anorexia in cats can be very serious and
lead to severe consequences.Daily
monitoring of your cat’s food intake can make a huge difference in catching
diseases early on.Unexplained weight
loss in cats is never acceptable.Early
intervention is not only better for the cat’s health and chance of survival, but also can be less
costly for the owner.